BLGC History
A beautiful addition to bring out the best in all of us
SECLUDED BEAUTY
When Black Lake Golf Club (BLGC) opened in June 2000, it became the newest addition to the recreational side of the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center. The center is located in Onaway, Mich., on 1,000 acres of heavily forested land at Black Lake, one of the state’s largest inland lakes.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Former UAW President Stephen P. Yokich originated the idea of building a golf course for UAW members, and he saw it through to completion with full support of the IEB. “Our goal was to take advantage of the spectacular property available to us and add a top-of-the-line, environmentally responsible golf course,” he said. “The center was designed from the beginning to include high-quality, recreational facilities, including a gymnasium, swimming pool, campground, beaches and boat ramp.”
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
Designed as an environmentally-friendly course, BLGC is one of the few courses that has been certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program, issued by Michigan State University. In June 2002, the course was certified by Audubon International under its Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, a program designed to protect wildlife and preserve natural resources.
BRILLIANT DESIGN
The UAW retained highly acclaimed architect Rees Jones to design a course consistent with the family-oriented, high standards already established at Black Lake. In addition, the course was both built and is being operated entirely by union workers. Rees Jones has designed golf courses from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but until he was retained to design Black Lake Golf Club, he had not worked in northern Michigan’s golf hotbed.
VISION
“Simply put,” Jones continued, “the holes were here, we just had to find them. We were trying to build an old style, classic course. You’ll notice we don’t have mounds or moguls. We just have sweeps and natural grade. We strive for holes blending with the natural terrain. There is nothing artificial or contrived at Black Lake.”
MASTERFULLY CRAFTED
“At its core, golf course architecture is a craft,” Jones said. “You have to feel your way around the design. Many people think that an architect can simply send a client a set of plans and then go out and build a great golf course. A good set of plans is just the beginning. An architect and his team have to work with the contractor, with the shapers, make all the necessary changes ― much as they did in the old days.”
SECLUDED BEAUTY
When Black Lake Golf Club (BLGC) opened in June 2000, it became the newest addition to the recreational side of the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center. The center is located in Onaway, Mich., on 1,000 acres of heavily forested land at Black Lake, one of the state’s largest inland lakes.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Former UAW President Stephen P. Yokich originated the idea of building a golf course for UAW members, and he saw it through to completion with full support of the IEB. “Our goal was to take advantage of the spectacular property available to us and add a top-of-the-line, environmentally responsible golf course,” he said. “The center was designed from the beginning to include high-quality, recreational facilities, including a gymnasium, swimming pool, campground, beaches and boat ramp.”
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
Designed as an environmentally-friendly course, BLGC is one of the few courses that has been certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program, issued by Michigan State University. In June 2002, the course was certified by Audubon International under its Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, a program designed to protect wildlife and preserve natural resources.
BRILLIANT DESIGN
The UAW retained highly acclaimed architect Rees Jones to design a course consistent with the family-oriented, high standards already established at Black Lake. In addition, the course was both built and is being operated entirely by union workers. Rees Jones has designed golf courses from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but until he was retained to design Black Lake Golf Club, he had not worked in northern Michigan’s golf hotbed.
VISION
“Simply put,” Jones continued, “the holes were here, we just had to find them. We were trying to build an old style, classic course. You’ll notice we don’t have mounds or moguls. We just have sweeps and natural grade. We strive for holes blending with the natural terrain. There is nothing artificial or contrived at Black Lake.”
MASTERFULLY CRAFTED
“At its core, golf course architecture is a craft,” Jones said. “You have to feel your way around the design. Many people think that an architect can simply send a client a set of plans and then go out and build a great golf course. A good set of plans is just the beginning. An architect and his team have to work with the contractor, with the shapers, make all the necessary changes ― much as they did in the old days.”
